Your Study in Australia Roadmap
#Studying in Australia starts with an education decision, not a visa form. Compare providers and courses, confirm CRICOS registration, understand the full cost, and check whether the qualification supports your academic and career goals.
A practical sequence is:
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Research a CRICOS-registered course and provider.
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Check admission, English, tuition, location, and graduate outcomes.
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Apply to the provider and assess the written offer.
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Accept the offer and obtain a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
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Prepare the Student Visa (subclass 500) application.
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Arrange housing, travel, OSHC, and arrival plans only after accounting for visa timing and risk.
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Maintain enrolment and comply with visa conditions throughout the course.
The student-visa page owns the detailed requirements, fees, Genuine Student test, documents, and application process. This guide focuses on the broader study journey and the choices around it.
Visa Options for Students and Graduates
#| Visa | When it fits | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| Student Visa (subclass 500) | Full-time CRICOS study | Requires a CoE, Genuine Student evidence, OSHC, and the applicable English and financial evidence |
| Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590) | Parent or eligible guardian supporting a student under 18 | Separate application with guardian-specific duties and restrictions |
| Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) | Eligible graduates after qualifying Australian study | Separate post-study application; not automatic after subclass 500 |
| Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) | Eligible young travellers whose main purpose is a holiday | Study is limited to four months and it is not a substitute for a long course |
Use the Student Visa vs Working Holiday comparison if you are deciding between full-time education and a travel-first year.
Budget for Tuition, Living Costs, and the Visa
#Your budget should include more than the provider's first deposit. Plan for:
- Tuition and compulsory course charges
- The Student Visa application charge
- OSHC for the required period
- Housing bond, rent, utilities, food, and transport
- Travel and initial setup costs
- English tests, translations, health examinations, or biometrics where required
- Living, insurance, and schooling costs for accompanying family
For most Student Visa applications lodged from 1 July 2026, the standard primary application charge is A$2,500. Where financial evidence is required, the current 12-month living-cost benchmark for the student is A$29,710, before tuition and travel. Family members add separate living and schooling amounts.
Part-time earnings should be treated as supplemental income, not as the plan for paying tuition or meeting the visa financial requirement. Exchange rates and unexpected housing costs can materially change the real budget, so keep a buffer.
Choose a Course and Provider Deliberately
#Confirm that the exact course and delivery location appear on CRICOS. Compare curriculum, academic level, teaching format, placement requirements, tuition-refund terms, campus location, and realistic employment outcomes.
The course should make sense in light of your previous education and work. A major change can still be genuine, but explain why the new field is necessary and how the qualification will be used. This reasoning also supports the Genuine Student assessment.
Do not choose a course solely because an agent claims it guarantees a graduate visa, occupation outcome, or permanent residence. Rules for subclass 485 and skilled migration can change before graduation. Review provider information directly, keep copies of representations and fee terms, and verify migration claims against official sources.
Work, Family, Insurance, and Student Life
#Most Student Visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. Master's-by-research and doctoral students generally have unrestricted work hours after their course starts. The grant notice and VEVO control the individual conditions.
Students must keep required OSHC, remain enrolled, maintain satisfactory progress, update contact details, and comply with course and visa conditions. Applicants under 18 need approved welfare arrangements.
Eligible partners and dependent children can apply if declared and if the family meets the financial, insurance, health, character, and relationship requirements. Family work rights vary, and school-age children can create substantial additional costs.
For practical documents, use the Australia visa documents checklist. For changing timelines, consult the processing-times guide and the live Home Affairs tool.
Plan for Graduation Without Assuming PR
#A Student Visa does not convert automatically when the course ends. Before expiry, review whether you qualify for a new visa and whether you need time for completion documents, English testing, skills assessment, or employer evidence.
The Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) can provide a temporary post-study option for eligible graduates, but course, age, timing, English, health-cover, and Australian-study requirements apply. Skilled and employer-sponsored visas use separate occupation, salary, skills, points, nomination, and invitation rules.
Keep your CoEs, transcripts, completion letter, OSHC records, payslips, tax records, and visa decisions. Choose an education path that remains valuable even if a later Australian visa is unavailable.
Global Overview
#See how this topic works across all countries in our Student Visa Guide.
Study in Other Countries
#Free Australia planning tools
#Estimate Australia government fees for the visa categories tied to this goal.
See which Australia visas may match your profile for study in australia: visa and planning guide for 2026.
Typical Australia processing wait times for the visas relevant to this goal.
Rehearse common Australia interview questions before your appointment.